I grew up in the rural green belt of London, England where I fell in love with literature and literary history. During my undergraduate degree at the University of Kent in Canterbury, and namely an exchange year abroad at UCLA, that love for literature transitioned into a passion for journalism and California sunshine. I moved to Los Angeles in 2007 to pursue an MA degree in journalism at USC and continue a freelance career in multimedia storytelling. And I have never looked back.
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My experience includes local, national and international reporting for news outlets such as the LA Weekly, Southern California Public Radio and the New Zealand Herald Tribune. My fascination with hyper-local journalism spawned a thesis about the future of the industry (titled, Can Grassroots Journalism Help Underserved Communities?) and, in 2008, led me to help found a hyper-local website covering South Los Angeles. I was managing editor until early 2011, when Patch became my next adventure.
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Now I live in Concord with my husband, reading, writing, exploring the Bay Area and continuing to drink my tea with milk.
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Beliefs:
1. Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. - Plato.
2. Never discuss religion or politics at the dinner table.
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Politics: I am a registered Democrat with an open mind to all opinions and factual arguments. I believe that the mind should be a thoroughfare for all thoughts and not a select party.
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Religion: Non-denominational Christian, with an almost pantheistic love for the outdoors and a strong appreciation for being still (Psalm 46:10.)
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Local Hot-Button Issues: Social justice issues that affect quality of life or access to opportunities, including education, immigration, health care and social welfare.
Superstorm Sandy has resulted in the cancellation of more than 300 blood drives across 11 states and a shortfall of nearly 9,000 blood and platelet donations. The Red Cross is asking Bay Area residents for the immediate donation of blood and platelets.
Patch poses three questions to Marnie Sheehan-Carter, candidate for Concord City Council in the 2012 election. Concordians will vote for two council members on Nov. 6.
The Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff offers tips for trick-or-treating safely this Halloween.
Here's how Lamorindans can help those affected by the superstorm that flooded New Jersey and New York Tuesday, leaving more than 5 million people across 10 states without power and causing at least 13 deaths.
Here's how you can help those affected by the superstorm that flooded New Jersey and New York Monday, leaving more than 5 million people across 10 states without power and causing at least 13 deaths.
At least 13 people have died, more than 6 million are without power as the superstorm landed and lashed New Jersey and New York.
Here's how you can help those affected by the superstorm that flooded New Jersey and New York Monday, leaving more than 5 million people across 10 states without power and causing at least 33 deaths.
The East Coast is bracing for Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to make landfall early Tuesday morning. Have you heard from friends or family members out there? How are they preparing for the hurricane?
The East Coast is bracing for Hurricane Sandy, which is expected to make landfall early Tuesday morning. Have you heard from friends or family members out there? How are they preparing for the hurricane?
Here are some highlights of Game 4. Tell us about your favorite moments of the series.
Watch highlights of the game here and share your experience witnessing the Giants beat the Tigers in four games to take the World Series title once again.
Where do Concord's criminals come from and what are their charges? This snapshot from the Concord Police Department tallies the 57 arrests in the past week by type of charge and the arrestee's city of residence. DUI arrests are up this week.
The frightful fun starts this weekend and continues through to Halloween on Oct. 31. Take a ghost walk, visit a haunted house and go trick or treating in and around the Creek.
This week's activity report from the Clayton Police Department spans two weeks and includes four arrests — three involving alcohol, one hit-and-run with property damage, two residential burglaries, two stolen cars and five cases of theft.
The superintendent of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District and the president of the Mt. Diablo Education Association explain why they stand by Prop 30.
UPDATED: The stabbing occurred around 9 p.m. Thursday on Meadow Lane off Monument Boulevard. Two men, one of whom is 16 years old, suffered minor injuries.
The frightful fun starts this weekend and continues through to Halloween on Oct. 31. Take a ghost walk, visit a haunted house and go trick or treating in and around Pleasant Hill.
The frightful fun starts this weekend and continues through to Halloween on Oct. 31. Take a ghost walk, visit a haunted house and go trick or treating in and around Martinez.
The frightful fun starts this weekend and continues through to Halloween on Oct. 31. Take a ghost walk, visit a haunted house and go trick or treating in and around Concord.
The number of residential burglaries doubled last week over the week before. There were 17 burglaries in Concord in the past week — 10 homes, three businesses and four vehicles.
